New Delhi: Mohammedan Sporting Club of Kolkata kept themselves in the hunt for their second Durand Cup football tournament title as they beat Mumbai Tigers 3-1 to storm into the final here on Monday.
Mohammedan Sporting, who are set to play in the I-League, which begins on Saturday, dominated the first semifinal match as they led 2-0 at half time in front of a sizeable crowd at the Ambedkar Stadium.
The Kolkata club, who have a good fan following in the Old Delhi area, scored through Penn Orji (second minute), Collin Abranches (45+1) and Antony Soren (65th).
For Mumbai Tigers, who recently pulled out of the I-League at the last minute, Bikash Jairu scored the lone goal in the 82nd minute.
In the summit clash on Thursday, Mohammedan Sporting play the winner of Tuesday’s second semifinal between Indian Navy and ONGC.
Mohammedan Sporting had won their maiden Durand Cup title in 1940 here, becoming the first Indian team to win what is the world’s third oldest football tournament, which started in 1888.
The Cup had been won by British Indian Army teams up until 1940.
They lost in the final on three occasions – in 1959 and 1980 against Mohun Bagan and in 1992 against JCT Mills. (PTI)